From the ancient and beautiful Italian island of Sicily emerged a variety of distinguished names, including the notable surname Caricchia. Although people were originally known only by a single name, it became necessary for people to adopt a second name to identify themselves as populations grew and travel became more frequent. The process of adopting fixed hereditary surnames was not complete until the modern era, but the use of hereditary family names in Italy began in the 10th and 11th centuries. Italian hereditary surnames were developed according to fairly general principles and they were characterized by a profusion of derivatives coined from given names. Local names, also found in Italy, are derived from a place-name where the original bearer once resided or held land. Often Italian local surnames bore the prefix "di," which signifies emigration from one place to another, and does not necessarily denote nobility. The Caricchia family lived in a town just outside Palermo, as in 1189, a member of the Caro family was the Archbishop of Monreale.

Caricchia Early Origins

The surname Caricchia was first found in Sicily (Italian: Sicilia), the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Naples and the southern portion of the peninsula. Research shows that records of the Caricchia family date back to the year 1189 when a member of the Caro family was the Archbishop of Monreale, a town just outside Palermo.

Caricchia Spelling Variations

Caricchia Spelling Variations

Enormous variation in spelling and form characterizes those Italian names that originated in the medieval era. This is caused by two main factors: regional tradition, and inaccuracies in the recording process. Before the last few hundred years, scribes spelled names according to their sounds. Spelling variations were the unsurprising result. The variations of Caricchia include Caro, Cari, Cara, De Caro, Di Caro, Di Cara, La Cara, Li Cari, Carello, Carelli, Carella, Carillo, Caretti, Caroli, Caretta, Carino, Carini, Caruccio, Carucci, Carocci, Carracci, Caricchio, Caricchia, Carollo, Carullo, Carulli, Carotti, Carone, Caroni, Carofiglio, Carofratello, Carolillo, Carotenuto and many more.

Caricchia Early History

Caricchia Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Caricchia research. More information is included under the topic Early Caricchia History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Caricchia Early Notables (pre 1700)

Caricchia Early Notables (pre 1700)

Prominent among bearers of this surname in early times was Marchetto Cara (c. 1470-1525), an Italian composer, lutenist and singer of the Renaissance; Cecco del Caravaggio, a painter born in 1571 near Milan. He is most famous for his technique of "Chiaroscuro" or light and dark contrast. Some of his most...

Another 99 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Caricchia Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Caricchia: Miss Cara, who sailed to New Orleans in 1821, and S. Caro, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851.

The Caricchia Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Caricchia Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.